It has always been my dream to write and draw comic books. When I was young, I created strip-style stories about my dog, a golden retriever named Samson, who had Superman-like powers. In college, I created a handful of amateurish works based on my love of European-style comics. Since then, I have been working on this craft and developing ideas as a side hustle. This character came about during a daily drawing challenge on social media and instantly I knew there was something there.
This book is a love letter to everything I grew up reading, from Conan to The Hardy Boys.
Cover Designs.
Book Design.
Dòchas, Birth of the Dragon Conqueror is a high fantasy YA (young adult fiction) graphic novel.
In a world ruled by despotic dragons a teenage girl who can slay them comes of age. Is she humanity's last champion or an unwitting pawn in the dragons' evil plans?
Embark on a journey with memorable characters and settings steeped in lore. Featuring an innovative storytelling approach that seamlessly blends prose and comic book panels, creating a dynamic narrative that captivates as the story unfolds.
The book design seamlessly blends prose, world-building, and comic book panels, creating a dynamic narrative that captivates readers as the story unfolds.
Prototyping and direction changes.
The first prototype book was a proof of the overall concept; would the mix of prose and comics flow in a compelling narrative.
The evolution of the book from the first ashcan of only comic panels (right), to the final designed book (left).
Logo design.
My initial thoughts were modern variations on blackletter characters.
As I developed a system for the letters, the challenge transitioned into how abstract is too abstract.
Dialing in the details and playing with terminals.
Choosing the supporting typography for the books title was a journey through a dozen finalists.
I also found some public domain type from a Dover Publications book I had collected and played with that as a secondary logotype.
Playing with the secondary logotype.
The final logo with distressing added.
Process pages.
Character Designs.
